Medical Minute

Medical Minute

Endometriosis is difficult to diagnose, with women often being told for years that they are experiencing their "normal period," and according to the Endometriosis Foundation of America, it affects one in 10 women. Penn State Hershey gynecological surgeon Gerald Harkins is working to get the word out that women with endometriosis do not have to suffer.

When used effectively, a timeout can train children to behave in acceptable ways. The problem is that not all grown-ups know when or how to use the timeout to their advantage. Brian Allen, a child psychologist at Penn State Hershey Children's Hospital, has some suggestions.

Occasional stomach aches are part of life. But when they continue for more than a few weeks, come back often or are accompanied by bloody stools and additional symptoms, the cause could be inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD.

To cure colorectal cancer, surgeons traditionally have needed to create relatively large abdominal incisions in order to remove the cancer. But over the years, technological advancements have made it possible to perform the same curative cancer surgeries laparoscopically.

Lots of things have been associated with higher risks of developing certain cancers. But there are very few things that have been proven to have a cause-and-effect relationship, as Dr. Ray Hohl, director of Penn State Hershey Cancer Institute, explains.

Medical management and surgical options for people with heart disease improve each year. But coronary disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States. And patients still can do more than doctors when it comes to preventing and managing their risk.

The recent measles outbreak linked to Disney amusement parks in southern California should not be a concern for anyone who has had measles in the past or who has received two doses of the measles vaccine. "The vaccine is very effective, so they would be protected," said a Penn State Hershey physician.

With many people staring down New Year’s resolutions related to losing weight, some may be wondering if surgical weight loss is right for them. Dr. Ann Rogers, director of Penn State Hershey Surgical Weight Loss, says surgery is only a long-term solution for patients who also resolve to enact some important lifestyle changes.

Cigarettes have been convicted of many crimes over the years. But the jury's still out on whether their younger, more fashionable cousins -- electronic cigarettes, or e-cigarettes -- will meet the same fate.

While the holidays are a time of merriment and festivities for many, some people struggle with depression during this time of year. Dr. Erika Saunders, interim chair of psychiatry at Penn State Hershey, says there are some distinct warning signs to watch for.

Joy and goodwill aren’t the only things we start spreading to friends, family, colleagues -- even strangers -- this time of year. Late fall and early winter also signal the start of annual spread of the influenza virus.

In the early 1990s, autism awareness kicked into high gear, and Pennsylvania responded by developing programs and services to meet the needs of newly diagnosed children. Now, those children have become young adults, and the medical community faces its next challenge -- how to serve adults with autism.